Machine for pressing shirt-bosoms.



No. 675,435. Patented June 4, I901. D. H. BENJAMIN.

MACHlNE FOR PRESSING SHIRT BOSOMS.

(Application filed June 6, 1900.] (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

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No. 675,435. Patented June 4, I90I. D. H. BENJAMIN.

MACHINE FOR PRESSING SHIRT BOSOMS.

(Application filed June 6, 1900.]

3 Sheets-SheeI 2 (No Model.)

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MACHINE FOR PRESSING SH-IBT BOSDMS.

(Application filed June 6, 1900-) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Shoat 3,

7g amen! Danailflezybmin UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANA I'I. BENJAMIN, OF IONIA, MICHIGAN.

MACHINE FOR PRESSING SHIRT-BOSOMS.

SPEGIFECATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 675,435, dated June 4., 1901.

Application filed June 6. 1900. Serial No. 19,234. (No model.)

To aZZ tuft/1777, it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANA H. BENJAMIN, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Ionia, Ionia county, Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Pressing Shirt- Bosoms, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in machines for pressing shirt-bosoms; and the objects and nature of the invention willbereadily understood by those skilled in the art in view of the following explanation of the construction shown in the accompany ing drawings as an example from among other constructions within the spirit and scope of my invention.

My invention consists in certain novel features of construction and in combinations and in arrangements of parts, as more fully and particularly pointed out hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the press, a shirt being shown clamped on one of the ironingboards, the parts being shown performing the pressing operation and the clamping-frame of one of the ironing-boards being shown swung up, so that a shirt can be placed on the board. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of the press, the pads being removed from the ironing-boards. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional plan showing the radiating arms which carry the ironingboards. Fig. 4 is a detail plan view of the rigid head having the radiating arms carrying the heated plates, said plates not being shown. Fig. 5 isa detail plan view of the base-ring, showing the notches therein to receive the locking device or bolt. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the band or frame which holds the pad on an ironingboard. Fig. 7 is a detail vertical section of the base portion of the machine, showing the locking device and its actuating means. Fig. Sis a detail plan view of an ironing-board, the pad and neckbaud-block being removed. Fig. 9 is an edge view of said board. Fig. 10 is a detail top plan of the neckband holder or block. Fig. 1l is a cross-section of the neckband-holder shown in Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a detail plan ofa modification, showing part of an ironingboard with an open-front shirt thereon. Fig. 13 is a detail sectional elevation of the holding device for an open-front shirt, the metal ring 26 shown in Fig. 12 being omitted. Fig. 14 is a detail cross-see tional view of an ironing-board and the pad thereon.

Having described my invention with reference to the figures illustrated on the drawings, I will now proceed to describe the same more in detail.

Similar numerals of reference refer to corresponding parts in the several views.

In the drawings, 1 represents the frame or base portion of the machine, and consists in the outwardly-extending flange with the vertically-extending tubular standard 2, which supports and carries the working mechanism ot' the press. For holding the operative portions in their proper relation on the press I provide stay-bolt 3, having a head at its bottom, which passes through washer 4, the outer surface of the Washerim pinging against the inner walls of frame 1, as illustrated in Fig. 2, and the upper end of said rod 3 is provided with nut l for clamping the parts together.

Surrounding the base portion of the machine and the standard I provide collar 5, suitably bolted or secured to the base portion of the frame. On the upper face of this collar I provide circular groove 6, which receives and carries antifriction-balis 7 to facilitate the rotation of the upper portion of the operative mechanism. Above the ball-bearing surface I provide a sleeve 8, which is provided, preferably, with four arms 9 for supporting the bosom or presser plates on which the shirts are placed preparatory to receiving pressure. The sleeve and arms are so mounted as to be rotated on the ball-bearings by the operator at will, which is accomplished by placing his hand on the arm and turning it in either direction. Above the sleeve mounted on standard 2 is a stationary head 1( provided with a pair of arms 11 11. (Illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 4.) The head has a central opening 12, Fig. 4, which fits over standard 2 and rests on shoulder 13, Fig. 2, and is clamped on its upper face 14 by cap 15. If desired, the cap 15 can be screwed on the upper end of the tubular standard to hold the head 10 rigidly in position on the standard, the nut 4 acting as a lock to hold the cap against loosening rotation. The purpose of having but two arms 11 11 on the head 10 at an angle of ninety degrees with each other, as illustrated in Fig. 4, is to give the operators a larger space where there are no heated plates to do their work in placing the shirt to be operated on onto the ironing-board. On the outer ends of arms 11 11 of the head I rigidly secure, preferably, steam-heated plates, although any other mode of heating the plates maybe used. v The steam-plates are nu mbered 14, Fig. 2, which are secured to. arms 11 by screws 15, screwed into the steam-plate, there being two screws through the arm into each steam-plate, the screws passing through openings 15, Fig. 4. In this instance the steamplates are shown made of cast-iron provided with chambers 16, which have been stopped with iron screw-plugs 16. Steam is admitted into steam-plate 14 through steam-pipe 17. This steam-plate is heated sufficiently to produce the ironing effect on the bosom. The face of the plate is perfectly plane and smooth, orit may be provided with cupro-nickel,highly polished or any other surface which will secure the requisite polish on its face. These steam-plates are stationary with the head. For pressing the bosom of the shirt against the ironing-surface of the steam-plate I provide steam-operated presser-plates 18, operated in the following manner, Fig. 2: These plates, four in number, are bolted to arms 9, Fig. 3, by screws 19, Fig. 1,which pass through openings 19, Fig. 3, and are rigidly held to the arms to be rotated with sleeve 8. The resser-plates are preferably made of castiron and may be made to conform to the general shape of-the bosom to be ironed, or they may be, made square or in any other form suited to the work. Over the face of the presser-plate 18 I place a pre'sser-pad 20, comprising suitable materialsuch, for instance,

- as felt, (see Fig. 14)which forms a cushionsurface of absorbent material. The edges of the cushion absorbent pad 20 drop over the outer edges of the cushion-plate, as illustrated at 21, Fig. 1, and are held in place on the face and edges of the plate by crowding over the ironing plate or board frame 22, Fig. 6, which is arranged to be attachable or detachable at the will of the operator. The shirt-bosom rests on the pad 20, and the shirt body hangs down around the edge of the presserplate and over the frame or band 22, which clamps the soft absorbent pad 20 on said plate. -The shirt is then clamped in position and the bosom held straightened and flattened out on the pad by the swinging frame 22, hinged at its inner end at 22 to permit vertical swing of the frame 22" to fasten or release the shirt. Said frame 22 swings down outside of the band 22 and clamps the shirt between said frame and said band. On the upper face of each presserplate and projecting above the cushion surface I provide, preferably, two pins 23, (best illustrated in Figs. 1, 8, 9, and 12,) which are provided for holding the collar-plate and ring in the proper position when the bosomis pressed. The neckband or collar of the shirt projects above the face of the bosom thereof when on the presser-plate, and to accommodate this upward projection I provide collar-plate 24, of sufficient thickness to accommodate the width of the neckband of the shirt. This collar-plate is provided with openings 25 to admit the pins 23 into said openings, and surrounding collar-plate 24 I provide expansible spring-metal ring 26, the free ends of which overlap each other, as indicated at 27, Fig. 10. This metal flexible ring is rigidly secured to the plate or block 24 and is somewhat larger than the neckband of the shirt, so that when the neckband is placed over the ring and buttoned the free ends of the ring can overlap and pass by each other to accommodate neckbands of varying sizes. By placing the neckbandaround the neck-plate and ring and buttoning the neckband the elasticity of the ring maintains the neckband in its normal size without undue stretching and leaves the bosom below the neckband to be strained on the end of the ironing-board, and where the shirt-front to be ironed is opened in the front I provide circular depression 24", Fig. 12. By buttoning the collar in front the collar-button sets into circular depression or cutaway portion 24 and permits the neckband to fit close on spring 26 and leaves the neckband standing in substantially a vertical position, while the bosom of the shirt lieshorizontally on the ironing-pad 20. For holding the neckband of an open-front shirt I provide finger 28, having an angle-bend 29, which hooks onto the front face of the collar-button, the finger being pivoted at 30 to swing lever 31, fulcrumed to collar-plate 24. Where this construction is employed for holding the shirt by the finger 28, the collar-plate 24 is usually so mounted on the ironing-board as to have a slight independent movement thereon before the shirt is stretched and secured. This slight movement is permitted by having openings 25, one of which is shown in Fig. 13, somewhat larger than the pins'over which the neck-plate 24 is placed. Similar openings are also shown in the form illustrated in Fig. 10. For straightening the bosom of the shirt when on the presser-plate or ironing-board I provide angular roll 33, (best illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9,) and in this instance the roll or stretcher 33 is square. By drawing the shirtbosom down over the ironing board or plate and passing it over and under the roll and turning the roll by hand the bosom is drawn taut and is so held by means of ratchet 34 and pawl 35, Figs. 8 and 9, when pressure is applied to the bosom of the shirt. When sufficient pressure has been applied and the shirt is ready to be removed from the ironing plate or board, by removing the neckband open in the back from the collar-plate and spring the garment can be released from roll 33, or if the ironed shirt or garment has the neckband open in front by moving lever 31 upward and releasing the angular part 29 on finger 28 from the front of the neck-stud the garment can then he slipped off and removed from the ironing board or plate.

For accommodating collar-plate 24 and ring 26 and to permit ironing-plate 14 to press only upon the bosom and not on the neckband of the garment I provide in the face of the ironing-plate 14 recess 36, Fig. (Also shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.) By this arrangement the ironing pressure comes flat and direct on the bosom of the garment to be ironed without pulling, stretching, or distorting the neckhand. Sleeve 8 has both a vertical or reciprocating and a rotary motion, and the pressure is applied to the garment by the vertical motion, which is accomplished through the operation of the following mechanism: I provide ring 37, Fig. 2, which abuts at 38 on the under side of arms 9 on the sleeve, and the pressure is applied by toggle-links 39, fitted in groove 40 in ring 37 and jointed to toggle-links 39, respectively pivoted together at 41. The lowerends of toggle-links 39 fit in groove 42 in base-collar 5. The two toggles are arranged on opposite sides of the sleeve 8, and mechanism is provided to straighten both toggles simultaneously, thereby moving sleeve 8 and the arms carrying the presser or ironing plates up into contact with. steam-heated plates 14 with an enormous pressure. The garment when brought in contact with the heated face of the ironing-plates 14 of course is in a damp state and the felted elastic surface of the ironing board or plate acts as an absorbent to the moisture and leaves the garment ironed, polished, and practically dry. By a repetition of these processes the elastic or felted surface of the ironing plate or board with the felt thereon becomes moist. The felt can be removed and dry ones replaced through the operation of removing and replacing the encircling band (illustrated in Fig. 6) over the edge of the ironing plate or board carrying the felt and securing it thereto.

The toggle-links are driven into and out of the'position shown in Fig. 1 by the operation of a pair of steanrcylinders 43 43, operating steam-pistons 44, Fig. 2, through the medium of connecting-rods 45 45, the heads 46 hearing against brackets 47, rigidly secured to angle connecting-bars 48 48, jointed and pivoted at 41 to the toggle-links, and as the pistons are reciprocated in the ordinary manner in the cylinders the angular connecting-bars 48 are driven in and out under strong pressure. Ordinary air-cushions 49 are shown to take up the jar incidentto the movement and to reduce vibration of the parts moved by the steam-actuated pistons. Brackets 47 are rigidly seeured to angle connecting-bars 48 and permitted to move in the slots between the steam piston-heads and the air-cushions.

Although my invention is not limited to the the sleeve.

specific mechanisms shown for actuating the reciprocating sleeve carrying the pressure heads or plates, yet for the sake of clearness I have illustrated a convenient construction for this purpose wherein each piston-rod is extended and formed to enter and reciprocate in an air-chamber or dash-pot 49 for the purpose described. Each piston-red is vertically slotted between the steam-cylinder and dash-pot to receive the vertical rigid arm or bracket 47, rigidly secured to its horizontallymoving bar 45, loosely coupled to the joint of its toggle.

For operating the steam valves or ports which admit and discharge the steam to and from the steam-cylinders I provide rotary disk 50, Fig. 1, which has connected at opposite points connecting-rods 51 51,so that when the lever 52, Fig. 1, is moved into the position shown in Fig. 1 the steam-pressure is applied to the toggle-joints, which are brought into the vertical position illustrated in that figure. By moving handle 52 in Fig. 1 to the left steam is admitted into the opposite side of the steam-chests, thereby driving the pistons outward, carrying with the pistons the angular connecting-bars 48, which bring the toggle-links into the position shown in Fig. 2, thereby removing the ironing pressure preparatory to removing the garments from the machine.

The sleeve 8, carrying thearms 9, to which the pressure-plates are secured, is freely rotatable to permit the insertion and removal of the shirts from said plates, and in order to hold the said sleeve and parts carried thereby against rotation during each pressing operation I provide on the base of sleeve 8 adjust able band 55, a top view of which is illustrated in Fig. 5. It is provided on its external surface with four vertical grooves 56, which correspond to the number of arms on This band or collar 55 surrounds the lower portion of the sleeve 8 and is adjustably clamped thereto by suitable means, such as set-screws 57. (See Fig. 2.) A slid-. ing bolt 58, Fig. 7, is mounted on the frame to project into any one of the grooves or notches 56, and thereby hold the sleeve 8 and attached parts againstrotation. The arrangement of the grooves 56 is such that whenever the bolt enters one of them, and thereby locks the sleeve 8 against rotation, two of the pressure-plates will be in operative position with respect to the two fixed heated plates. The bolt 58 has its inner end 59 formed to enter any one of said grooves 56 and lock the sleeve and yet permit the vertical reciprocation thereof. Suitable mechanism is provided to Withdraw the bolt and release the sleeve. For instance, I show foot-lever 60 rigid with a shaft 61, which also has an arm or lever 62 rigid therewith. The shaft 61 is mounted in a suitable rigid bracket, and the foot-lever is yieldingly held up and the bolt yieldingly pressed in toward the notched band by U- shaped expansive spring 63, secured to the base of the frame at 64: and engaging the arm 62 at 65 and exerting upward pressure thereon. The foot-lever has a cog or projection 66, which loosely fits a corresponding depression or socket 67 in the under edge of the bolt 58. It will thus be noted that when the foot-lever is depressed against the tension of spring 63 the bolt is withdrawn, and when the foot-lever is released the spring will return the parts to their normal positions, with the bolt engaging band 55.

The operation of my machine and its details of construction may be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention. Hence I do not wish to limit myself to the constructions shown and described, but consider myself entitled to all such changes and modifications as fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an ironing-press, the following elements in combination: astationary head having two stationary arms carryingsteam-heated ironing-plates, a movable sleeve carrying four arms and presser-plates, mechanism for applying force to the presser-plates and for permitting the rotation of the arms, substantially as set forth for the purposes stated.

2. In an ironing-machine, the following elementsin combination: a stationary head having two stationary arms, a steam-heated ironing-plate rigidly secured to each arm, a sleeve carrying a series of arms rigidly fixed thereto, presser-plates secured to said arms, an elastic fibrous ironing-surface on the face of each presser-plate, said presser-plates being provided with mechanism for holding the neck of the garment in a vertical position, mechanism for applying pressure to the sleeve and to the garment to be operated on, and mechanism for permitting the rotation of the sleeve and arms, substantially as set forth for the purposes stated.

3. In an ironing-press, the following elementsin combination: a stationary head with arms, steam-heated ironing-plates rigidly secured to the arms on the head, a verticallymovable sleeve having a series of arms with 'presser-plates or ironing-boards secured on the arms, mechanism for holding the neckband of the garment tobe operated on in a vertical position, and for straightening the garment, two pairs of toggle-links and steam actuated mechanism for operating the toggles and producing pressure on the garment to be operated on, substantially as set forth for the purposes stated.

4. In an ironing-machine, the combination of one or more horizontally-disposed stationary steam-heated ironing-plates, a series of ironing boards or plates having their faces covered with fibrous material, mechanism for vertically and reciprocally moving the ironing boards or plates, mechanism for permitting the rotation of the ironing boards or plates, and mechanism for locking said rotary ironing-boards against rotation, substantially as set forth for the purposes stated.

5. In an ironing-press, the combination of a support, a stationary head provided with a heated ironing-plate, a reciprocating member capable of being manually rotated and provided with several ironing-boards each having an elastic pad of absorbent material, said boards adaptedto be brought successively opposite said plate on the rotation of said member, means for holding said memher against rotation, and mechanism for reciprocating said member, substantially as described.

6. In an ironing-press, the combination of a standard, a head rigid therewith and provided with a fixed heated ironing-plate, a member longitudinally and axially movable on said standard and provided with-several separate radial ironing-boards each having an independent absorbent elastic ironing-surface, and mechanism for reciprocating said member to move an ironing-board to and from the ironing-plate, substantially as described.

7. In an ironing-press, in combination, a vertical post having a lateral arm provided with an ironing-plate adapted to be heated, a sleeve loosely encircling said post and movable longitudinally thereon, mechanism for reciprocating said sleeve on said post, a bearing for-said sleeve, whereby said sleeve can be moved axially around said post, said sleeve having'a lateral arm provided with an ironing-board, substantially as described.

8. In a bosom-ironing press, the combina tion of a support provided witha heated ironin g-plate rigid therewith, a reciprocating and axially-m ovable member provided with a rigid arm having a padded ironing-surface, mechanism thereon for holding the neckband of the shirt in a vertical position, means permitting free rotation of said member and whereby the same can be locked, and mechanism for reciprocating parts to perform the pressing operation,sulostantiallyas described.

9. In an ironing-press, the combination of a support provided with a stationary ironingplate formed to internally receive a heating medium, a reciprocating member provided with several ironing-boards, mechanism for reciprocating said member, said member capable of rotation to successively bring said ironing-boards opposite said ironing-plate, and means to hold said member against rotation, substantially as described.

10. In combination, a member having a head provided with a heated ironing-plate, another member provided with a series of spaced arms, each arm having a cushioned ironing-board, said arms formed and arranged to separately receive shirts with their bosoms stretched on said boards, one member relatively movable axially to bring said plate and any one of the boards opposite, operating mechanism to bring the same together to perform the pressing operation, and means permitting said axial movement of one member and whereby the same can be locked against axial movement during the pressing operation, substantially as described.

11'. In a shirt-bosom-ironing press, the combination of a support provided with a heated ironing-plate, a reciprocating member provided with an ironing-board opposing said plate and adapted to receive a shirt, means projecting above the face of the board to receive the shirt-neckband and hold the same elevated, said plate recessed opposite said means, and mechanism for reciprocating said member and applying the necessary pressure thereto, substantially as described.

12. In an ironing-press, the combination of a standard, a fixed head thereon provided with a heated ironing-plate, a reciprocating and rotatable member thereon provided with several ironing-boards, a lock normally holding said member against rotation with a board opposite said plate, and mechanism for reciprocating said member and applying pressure thereto and permitting the independent rotation of said member, substantially as de scribed.

13. In a shirt-bosom-ironing press, the combination of a support provided with several separated arms, each on its under face having an ironing-plate adapted to be heated, said arms arranged to afford a space between certain arms for the operator, a member capable of being manually rotated and provided with several radiating arms provided with ironing-boards having padded surfaces, each ironing-board having devices to secure the bosoms of shirts thereon, the parts being so arranged that each ironing-plate will have an ironing-board located opposite the same during the pressing operation, and mechanism for bringing said plates and boards together for performing the pressing operation, substantially as described.

14:. In a shirt-bosom-ironing machine, the combination of a frame,an ironing-board having a padded surface, a block on said board having an expansible neckband-spring secured thereto, a heated ironingplate arranged opposite said board and recessed opposite said block, and operating mechanism to bring said board and plate together to perform the pressing operation, substantially as described.

15. In combination, a vertical post, a head fixed on the upper end thereof having a horizontal arm provided With a heated ironingplate, a sleeve longitudinally and axially movable on said post and provided with a horizontal arm having an ironing -board, means to hold a shirt-bosom 011 said board opposite said plate, means permitting rotation of the sleeve around the post and for holding the same against rotation, and mechanism for moving said sleeve vertically on said post, substantially as described.

16. In combination, a rigid vertical post, a head fixed thereon and having several radiating rigid arms, each provided with a heated ironing-plate, a sleeve longitudinally movable on said post and provided with several radiating arms rigid therewith and each provided with an ironing-board, each board provided With means to stretch a shirt-bosom thereon, and mechanism for reciprocating said sleeve on said post, substantially as described.

17. In combination, a vertical post having horizontal arms provided with heated ironingplates, a member movable longitudinally of said post and provided with arms having ironing-boards, a pair of upright toggles acting on said member to move the same longitudinally, said toggles arranged on opposite sides of said member, power-cylinders, pistons and connecting devices for said toggles, and mechanisms causing said pistons to act in unison to cause said toggles to simultaneously straighten and break, substantially as described.

18. In combination, a vertical post, a sleeve axially and longitudinally movable thereon, a bottom bearing for the sleeve, said sleeve provided with spaced radiating arms rigid therewith, each arm provided With a separate ironing-board having a padded surface,mechanism for forcing the sleeve upwardly, and a head secured on the upper end of the post provided with rigid spaced radiating arms having separated heated ironing-plates, substantially as described.

Signed by me at Utica, New York, this 18th day of May, 1900.

DANA II. BENJAMIN.

\Vitnesses:

PHEBE A. TANNER, VERNON W. LEE. 

